NBA: Miami Heat V Toronto Raptors preview

The pressure is on for the Toronto Raptors to end the Miami Heats winning streak.

Miami will be looking to an extend a 21-game winning run, a streak they started with a victory over Toronto in early February, when they take on the Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

One more win would see the reigning NBA champions match the second-longest streak in league history and stay on course for an assault on the all-time record set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1971-72.

Miami have also beaten the Raptors the last 10 times they have played them, so the Canadian outfit will be eager to end two long winning runs currently enjoyed by their opponents.

The visitors will head into the contest owning the best record in the NBA at 50-14, their rich vein of form taking them past previous leaders the San Antonio Spurs.

The ‘Big Three’ of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh – formerly a Toronto favourite – have all been notable contributors, with the likes of point guard Mario Chalmers providing adequate support.

Meanwhile the Raptors, currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, will be hoping for a big win to re-ignite their hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Toronto won seven of 10 following their trade for Rudy Gay from the Memphis Grizzlies, but that purple patch has petered out into a 3-7 record since February 25.

Gay has averaged almost exactly 20 points a game since the trade but his shooting from the field has been erratic, dropping below 30 per cent on more than one occasion.

If the Raptors are to pull off the upset then Gay’s jump-shot needs to be on song, while the likes of Amir Johnson and DeMar DeRozan will also need to step up their scoring.

Miami Heat @ Toronto is available on Sky Sports 4, Sunday 17 March at 5pm